Confidence in the commercial performance of Greendale Merino genetics was in evidence when the McGufficke family held their annual on-property ram sale at “Willarney”, Cooma, where 90 rams were penned, selling 76 on the day to top $4500 for an average price of $1934.
Co-principal Alan McGufficke said “this confidence is a result of the 2006-2016 Merino Bloodline comparison where Greendale was ranked first overall in profit $/DSE of the 77 bloodlines represented,” he said.
“We are totally focused on producing the most efficient and profitable Merino.
“To do this we use the technology and tools available to us.”
Buyers used the information provided with ASBVs to target rams with high YCFW and Merino production indexes and rams sired by leading sires Hazeldean 11-3542 and Greendale 12-12 attracted a lot of attention and all sold at above sale average price.
The top-price ram was bought by Jack Glasson, Jimenbuen Pastoral Co, Dalgety, who paid $4500, for a son of Hazeldean 11-3542, along with another son of 11-3542 for $4000.
Mr Glasson said the ram appealed for his “brilliant” figures which complimented “big frame and heavy cutting ability on a very balance ram.”
“He had figures of +25YCFW, -1.9 YFD with an MP+ index of 178, the highest ranked in the sale,” he said.
Repeat client Wathonga Partnership, Cooma, purchased three rams at average price $2983, with E. and G. Sellars, Bendoc, securing three rams for average $3500, while long term clients Jim and Clare Buckley, Jindabyne, selected their rams from the top end and paid average $3050 for three.
New clients included D. and R. Sykes, Binalong, who bought five rams at average $2390 and Mountain View Ag, Alectown, who took home six Poll rams for average $1766.
Loyal clients, the Woodstock Partnership, Cooma, are ranked first $DSE of the 50 teams in the 2016 Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge Trial, and they paid average $2708 for six rams.
Other buyers with success in wether trials included B. and E. Dwyer, Alectown, who bought seven rams for $1471 average, the Cay family, Bungarby, who loaded six rams for $1200 average and Mayfield Partnership, Cooma, ranked third in the 2016 Bookham Agricultural Bureau Trial, who purchased two rams at $2000 apiece.
Jincumbilly Grazing, Ando, purchased five rams at an average of $1840.
Speaking after the sale, co-principal Alan McGufficke said “our great sale result is a reflection on strong prices for stock and wool and the strong showing of Greendale-blood wethers in trials.”
“It is great to see confidence in the Merino industry,” he said.
“We had lots of local support, returning clients and new buyers following the success of our bloodlines in profitability performance trials.”
The sale was held by Elders, Cooma, with Steve Ridley auctioneering.